Conference in Hasakah explores transitional justice in Syria
HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – A local civil society organization, in partnership with the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, held on Sunday a conference in the northeastern Syrian city of Hasakah under the title ” Dealing with the Past – Towards a Syrian Peacebuilding Mechanism.”
“The conference is part of broader efforts to support community-led initiatives for transitional justice in Syria,” said Bilind Mullah Ibrahim, Executive Director of the Humanitarian and Development Cooperation Organization.
Mullah Ibrahim emphasized the importance of involving local communities in shaping justice and reconciliation processes.
“Addressing Syria’s long history of violations requires mechanisms that complement official structures such as the Transitional Justice Authority and the National Body for the Missing, alongside international efforts focused on the missing and victims,” he told North Press.
He noted that while many local issues remain unresolved, Syria still lacks effective government-led transitional justice mechanisms.
“These processes have largely been designed as national frameworks centered on formal courts and judicial bodies,” he said.
However, Mullah Ibrahim argued that community-based efforts to confront the past can provide complementary, alternative approaches to justice, and should not be seen as conflicting with formal transitional justice mechanisms.
Khaled Jabr, a legal scholar specializing in international law, told North Press that Syria still lacks a genuine transitional justice process, despite over a decade of conflict and widespread civilian abuses.
“The absence of political will and the refusal of authorities to open accountability files continue to obstruct any progress toward truth and reconciliation,” Jabr said.
“Recent events in Syria’s coastal regions and the ongoing violence in Suwayda highlight a persistent culture of impunity, coupled with official disregard for justice and accountability.”
He called for the establishment of an independent and effective accountability mechanism grounded in transparency, integrity, and international oversight.
“Transitional justice cannot be achieved without ending impunity and affirming Syrians’ right to justice and redress,” he said.
Activist Shayma Khalaf told North Press the timing of the conference was especially important, given the continued violations and the enduring legacy of the former Syrian regime.
“Addressing the past is essential to breaking the cycle that prevents Syrian society from healing,” she said. “Justice can only be achieved through clear transitional justice mechanisms based on community awareness and sustained international pressure.”